[break] [break] “This was the best regular season meet I can remember as far as the number of highly-ranked teams and quality teams competing,” said Georgia head coach Wayne Norton. “We had several personal bests in the both 200s, which shows we are getting better. There is still lots of room to improve.
[break] [break] “(Jimmy) Hicks’ time in the 3000 meters is an example of a guy who has been working hard and is gradually making progress. Leontia (Kallenou), Morgann (Leleux) and Keturah (Orji) were very good today so we are still in good position approaching the postseason. Both relay teams also ran their best of the season showing real signs of life.”
[break] [break] Sophomore Leontia Kallenou returned to the top of the national performance list by winning the high jump Invitational thanks to a second attempt clearance of 6 feet, 2 inches. Kallenou, who swept the Southeastern Conference and NCAA titles indoors and outdoors last year, edged Akron senior Claudia Garcia Jou (6-2) on misses.
[break] [break] Also in the high jump, sophomore Tatiana Gusin soared over the bar at 5-11.50 on her first try and took fourth.
[break] [break] Posting four marks of 45 feet in a row to start the competition, freshman Keturah Orji cruised to a victory in the triple jump with a mark of 45-7.75 over Florida’s Ciarra Brewer (44-11.75). The national leader and American Junior record holder also had an effort of 45-7.25 in her series with a low mark of 44-8.25.
[break] [break] Senior Morgann Leleux hit the 14-foot mark for the second meet in a row to earn runner-up honors in the pole vault. The New Iberia, La., native cleared 14-0.75 on her third try.
[break] [break] Fellow senior Nick Vena started the men’s shot put Invitational with his best mark of the day to finish fourth. Vena reached 65 feet (65-0.50) for the second consecutive meet as Texas’ Ryan Crouser won the meet with a final throw of 67-9.50. Junior Ashinia Miller, who came into the weekend ranked fourth nationally, took ninth (60-3) in the competition.
[break] [break] The Lady Bulldog 4×400 relay team ran its best time for Georgia since the 2002 season. Ashley Henry, Devon Artis, Katie Stone and Natalie Bordes combined to clock a 3:42.54 to win their heat and take 18th overall. Henry’s opening leg of 54.85 shot UGA to the front of the pack.
[break] [break] In the women’s 200, Stone moved into the No. 10 spot in the school record books after running a 24.20. She won her heat and took 23rd overall.
[break] [break] The Georgia men tied the seventh-best time in school history by taking ninth in the 4×400 relay. Ayrian Evans, Drew Branch, Derrick White and Jamario Calhoun ran a 3:08.56, which would have been in the nation’s top 10 going into the weekend. Both Branch (46.87) and White (46.79) helped give the Bulldogs their finish with their second and third legs, respectively.
[break] [break] Junior Jimmy Hicks also finished second in his 3000 group with a career-best time of 8:23.08.
[break] [break] Georgia also had a small group compete at the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday. Senior Charles Grethen and junior Kisean Smith led the charge by both clocking 800 times of 1:49 to finish in the top 15. Grethen raced out of the toughest heat and took eighth overall with a time of 1:49.11 while Smith won his heat and finished 15th overall with a personal-best time of 1:49.74. which ranks sixth in the UGA record books.